The Calgary Flames’ rookie camp is now officially wrapped up. Onto NHL preseason camps the organization goes, and this means that many junior-aged Calgary Flames prospects are now going back to their teams.
The CHL, Junior A, and European leagues are also now underway, which means seasons have officially started within the Flames prospect pool.
Welcome to the first iteration of the Win Columns, Calgary Flames prospect round-up.
Welcome to the TWC Calgary Flames’ prospect update. Each week, we’ll dive into how the Flames prospects have done in their respective leagues, along with a feature on one standout prospect in Calgary’s system. We have defined a prospect as a skater who has played fewer than 65 NHL games and is less than 25 years old.
Yan Matveiko, F, Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)
The 2006-born, 7th rounder out of the 2025 NHL draft has started his 2025–26 season off strong in the Russian Junior league. The 6’1 forward thrives as a playmaker and a workhorse for Krasnaya Armiya Moskva, averaging 17:29 of TOI per game this season.
Matveiko’s game is highlighted by strong senses (good space creation, high-quality timing, and offensive instincts). A high compete level through notable motor, a higher play engagement rate, and pressure exertion. Strong puck skills are also evident in terms of pass accuracy, variety, and playmaking efforts.
His main barriers to play are below-average skating (speed, mechanics, and lane manipulation), and physicality, as the young Russian got frequently pushed off the puck or displayed inefficient hitting.
Overall, his NHL potential remains questionable, but he has shown significant growth this early on in his technically D+ two-season career, with significant growth in physicality and balance, two of his largest question marks this time last year.
Calgary Flames prospect updates
AHL
- The Wranglers begin their training camp at the end of September, and start their regular season on October 10th, in Colorado, to face the Eagles.
- The Calgary Wranglers also have their home opener on October 24th, against the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
- After the completion of the Flames’ preseason, there will be a clearer look at who will be assigned to the Wranglers.
ECHL
- The Calgary Flames have renewed their ECHL deal with the Rapid City Rush for the 2025–2026 campaign. The Rush play in the ECHL’s Western Conference and are based in the Central Division.
- The Rush boasted a high amount of USports, minor European pro, and ECHL journeymen. Extra skill for the Rush could also mean greater depth for the Wranglers.
- The Rapid City-based club open their regular season on the road to play the Kansas City Mavericks on October 17th.
Europe
- Flames defensive prospect Jacob Leander has had an interesting start to his season, racking up 29 penalty minutes across just four games. Discipline aside, the Swede looks poised to be a leader from the backend for HV71 U20 this season.
- Theo Stockselius is off to a hot start in Swedish U20, posting six assists across four games. A couple of elements that led to him being drafted include his smart senses, puck skills of a high-end playmaker, and physical elements. He should be a difference maker for Djurgårdens IF U20 this season.
NCAA
- The NCAA starts late compared to other leagues, but the Flames have a total of nine players playing in the NCAA this year, and one prospect playing in the USHL. This is the first season where CHL players are now eligible to play in the NCAA, so expect this early CHL-NCAA graduation pathway to continue in the future.
OHL
- The OHL regular season started on the 19th of September. The Flames only have a single prospect within the league, as the majority of Calgary Flames prospects who were there last season made the move to the NCAA this year.
- Flames fans should still keep an eye out for 2024 second-round pick, forward Jacob Battaglia of the Kingston Frontenacs.
WHL
- The WHL regular season started on September 19th. There are two Calgary Flames prospects within the league this year, 2005-born Calgary Hitmen defender Axel Hurtig, and Saskatoon Blades forward Hunter Laing.
Russia
- Goaltender Kirill Zarubin appeared in one game this past week, a statement win 12–2 against MHK Dynamo-Kareliya Kondopoga, on the 21st. He stopped 22 of 24 shots.
- Yegorov appeared in two games this past week, stopping 74 of the 81 shots he faced. Look for the young goaltender to get more comfortable as the season goes on.
- 2025 7th-rounder Yan Matveiko has had a strong start to the 2025–2026 campaign, posting nine points across eight games so far.
Forwards
| Player | Position | GP | G | A | P | P/GP | PIM | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rory Kerins | C/LW | – | – | – | – | – | – | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Cullen Potter | C/LW | – | – | – | – | – | – | Arizona State University | NCAA |
| Cade Littler | C/RW | – | – | – | – | – | – | University of North Dakota | NCAA |
| Hunter Laing | C/RW | – | – | – | – | – | – | Saskatoon Blades | WHL |
| Samuel Honzek | C/LW | – | – | – | – | – | – | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Carter King | C/LW | – | – | – | – | – | – | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Cole Reschny | C/LW | – | – | – | – | – | – | University of North Dakota | NCAA |
| Jaden Lipinski | C/RW | – | – | – | – | – | – | University of Maine | NCAA |
| Luke Misa | C/LW | – | – | – | – | – | – | Penn State University | NCAA |
| Trevor Hoskins | RW/C | – | – | – | – | – | – | Merrimack College | NCAA |
| Theo Stockselius | C/LW | 4 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 1.50 | 2 | Djurgårdens IF U20 | U20 Nat |
| Yan Matveiko | C | 8 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 1.13 | 4 | Krasnaya Armiya Moskva | MHL |
| William Stromgren | LW/RW | – | – | – | – | – | – | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Matvei Gridin | LW/RW | – | – | – | – | – | – | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Lucas Ciona | LW/RW | – | – | – | – | – | – | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Parker Bell | LW/RW | – | – | – | – | – | – | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Andrew Basha | LW/RW | – | – | – | – | – | – | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Jacob Battaglia | LW/RW | – | – | – | – | – | – | Kingston Frontenacs | OHL |
| Aydar Suniev | LW/RW | – | – | – | – | – | – | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Ethan Wyttenbach | LW/RW | – | – | – | – | – | – | Quinnipiac University | NCAA |
| Aiden Lane | RW/LW | – | – | – | – | – | – | Harvard University | NCAA |
Defence
| Player | GP | G | A | P | P/GP | PIM | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yan Kuznetsov | – | – | – | – | – | – | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Jeremy Poirier | – | – | – | – | – | – | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Etienne Morin | – | – | – | – | – | – | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Artyom Grushnikov | – | – | – | – | – | – | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Jacob Leander | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.50 | 29 | HV71 | U20 Nat |
| Hunter Brzustewicz | – | – | – | – | – | – | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Axel Hurtig | – | – | – | – | – | – | Calgary Hitmen | WHL |
| Henry Mews | – | – | – | – | – | – | University of Michigan | NCAA |
| Eric Jamieson | – | – | – | – | – | – | University of Denver | NCAA |
| Mace’o Phillips | – | – | – | – | – | – | Green Bay Gamblers | USHL |
| Zayne Parekh | – | – | – | – | – | – | Calgary Flames | NHL |
Goaltenders
| Player | GP | GAA | SV% | Record | SO | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenii Sergeev | – | – | – | – | – | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Owen Say | – | – | – | – | – | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Yegor Yegorov | 3 | 3.01 | .914 | 1-2-0 | 0 | MHK Spartak-MAH Moskva | MHL |
| Kirill Zarubin | 4 | 2.68 | .913 | 1-2-0 | 0 | AKM Tula | MHL |
